Creasing and stretching device for trousers



' June 30, 1936. J. D. DANIEL CREASING AND STRETCHING DEVICE FOR TROUSERS Filed Nov. '7, 1955 'JZZFanieZ Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES 'CREASING AND STRETCHING DEVICE FOR TROUSERS James D. Daniel, Linden. .Tcnn. Application November 7, 1935,1SerialNo. 48,762 3' Claims. (Cl. 223E963) This invention relates to a creasing and stretching devicefor trousers, and it 'is' primarily an object or the invention to provide a device of this kind 'which,.-operates to advantage in creasing ;5 and "stretching the legs of trousers'from the waist band to. the lower or cuff ends of the legs and in a .man'nerfto also effectively stretch the crotch portion of the garment.

It is also an object of the invention to provide to two units each comprising a pair of creasing bars, and each of said units being insertable throughjia leg of the trousers and extending from the waist line to the lower or .cuif end of the leg, together withmeansifor forcing outwardly 15 the bars of each pair of creas ing members, said meansalso serving to provide a pivotal or swinging connection between the units'whereby, when desired, such units with the applied trousers may be caused to stand in an uprightposition thereby .20 materially facilitating the desired functioning of the device.

The invention also has for an object to provide an apparatus or device of this kind comprising a unit for insertion through a leg of trousers, said 25 1 unit having elongated creasing bars together with jmeans at the opposite end portions of said bars fd1' expanding or retracting the unit as may be "desired, s'aidmeans at the lower portions of the bars including legs or ground engaging members. 3 The invention consists in the details of construotioniand in the combination and arrangejment of'the several parts of myimproved creasing'and-stretching device for trousers whereby certainimportant advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageousfor "use; as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. V In order that my invention maybe the better "understood, I will now proceed to describe the isame" withreference to the accompanying draw- .ing', wherein:- f Figure lis a view in side elevation with portions in section of .a stretchingandcreasing, apparatus constructed in accordance withanembodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially v on the line 252 of Figure .1 looking in the direetion of the arrows;

FigureB is a detailedsectional .view taken substantially on the line 3-.3; of Figure- 1 looking in ,thegdirection .of the arrows;

p55 Figu r.e 4 is ;.a;,f ragmentary .elevational view takengat the upper end of one of the creasing bars or members illustrating in detail the mountingo'f the bracket carried by the upper end portion thereof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed View in edge 5 elevation of the lower end portion of one of the creasing. members. orbars illustrating in detail the bracket carried by the lower end of the creasing member or bar.

i My improved apparatus as herein disclosed comprises two units A and B of substantially the same construction, the particular differences, however, being hereinafter pointed out in detail. Each of the units A and B comprises a pair of elongated creasing and stretching bars I, the outer marginal portion .of each of which being herein disclosedas formed into what might be termed a knife edge, Each of these bars or membersj .is of a length in excess of the length of trousers "from the waist line to the lower or cuff end of a trousers leg so that when a unit is inserted through the leg of the trousers said unit willextend beyond the waist line of the trousers "and also beyond the loweror cuff end of the trousers legas is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

It is. also ,of advantage and importance to have the outer or knife edge of each of the members jl'formediongitudinally into close proximation of thestyleflor vout of the trousers so that when the apparatus is adjusted for effective use it will be assured that, the required stretching and creasi g of the trousers will be accomplished without 'ldi'stortionof the shape. r 1'W hile ,no t at alltimes necessary it is found of advantage to slightly dampen the trousers and particularly to facilitate the stretching action of thematerial.

{Upon initially applying the apparatus totrousers to be stretchedand creased, I find it of importance to engage overamember or bar I a springplipl, said clip being also engaged over the garment at .the waist line thereof and at the fly. By this .aneffective clampingof the garment is -had tothe upper portion of a member or bar I vofeachof the units. This use and location of the clips is believed to be clearly illustrated in Fig- .ures land 2.0f the drawing.

The upperend portions of the members I of each ofijthe units A and B are provided with the pockets 3 in theinner side faces thereof and as is particularly. illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the inner side-of each of .these pockets Sas wellas the out'erend thereof. isopen. Received within the pocket 3 is a flattened shank 4 of desired length and which is pivotally connected, as at 5, by a screw or otherwise as may be preferred to the associated member or bar I so that the shank 4 may have slight swinging movement. The outer end portion of the shank 4 of one of the members or bars I carries a sleeve 6, the bore I of which being smooth while the outer end of the shank 4 of the other bar or member I of the same unit carries a sleeve 8 having a threaded bore. As is particularly illustrated in Figure 1,

the relation of the sleeves 6 and 8 of one unit, as

A, with respect to the sleeves 6 and 8 of the second unit B is such as to position the sleeves 6 outwardly of the sleeves 8 with, however, opposed faces of adjacent sleeves 6 and 8 adapted for contact under the action of the adjusting shank 9. This adjusting shank 9 has its opposite end portions I9 reversely threaded with one sleeve 8 threading. upon one portion I0 and the second sleeve 8 threading upon the second portion I0. The portions I9 of the adjusting member 9 pass freely through the bores I of the sleeves 6. By this assembly it is believed to be readily apparent that upon turning movement of the member 9 in one direction the sleeves 8 will be caused to move outwardly in opposite directions upon the member 9 and at the same time contact with and move outwardly in the same direction the sleeves 6 resulting in the desired separating movement at the upper portion of the members or bars I to efiect the desired stretching and creasing strain upon the portion of the trousers with which the unit is employed. It is believed to be obvious that upon turning of the member 9 in the opposite direction the sleeves 8 will move inwardly of the member 9 and that the tension imposed upon the members or bars I will result in the inward movement of the sleeves 6 until the desired slacking of the garment is obtained.

The pivotal mounting of each of the shanks 4 is provided to compensate for any variation of positions which might be necessary in the placement of a creasing and stretching member or bar I.

The lower end portion of each of the members or bars I is bifurcated and extending within the resultant kerf II is a relatively thin plate I2. This plate It" in its central portion is provided with a slot I 4 extending in a direction transversely of the associated member or bar I and through this slot I4 is disposed a screw I5 or kindred member which is also directed through the adjacent lower end portion of the bar or member I and intersecting the kerf II. This provides an effective attachment of the plate I2 to the lower end portion of the bar or member I yet at the same time permitting said plate to have a slight rocking movement for the same purposes as the rocking movement provided for each of the shanks 4 hereinbefore referred to.

An end portion of the plate I2 is, as herein disclosed, integrally formed with an elongated bracket It, said plate being substantially at right angles thereto. The outer end of thisbracket I6 or that end portion remote from the plate I2 is provided with a laterally extended leg I1 terminating in an enlargement or foot I8 adapted for contact with a floor or other supporting surface when it is desired to maintain the apparatus in its entirety and particularly with the trousers applied thereto in an upstanding or vertical position. This adjustment is generally indicated in Figure 3 of the drawing wherein the units A and B are illustrated as downwardly converging. This relative swinging movement of the units A and B is readily permitted in View of the fact that the outer portions of the operating member 9 freely pass through the bores I of the sleeves thus permitting a ready relative swinging movement of the units A and B yet without in any way interfering or hampering the desired outward or inward adjustment of the members or'bars I of both of the units as a result of the required rotation of the operating member 9.

A second operating member I9 coacts with the brackets I6, said member'having the oppositely threaded portions 29 which thread through the central portions of the brackets I6. Upon rotation of the member I9 in one direction the lower end portions of the members or bars I of a unit A or 'B will be caused to have outward relative separating movement to effect the desired stretching and creasing pressure upon the leg of thetrousers, and it is to be particularly noted that this operation or adjustment may be efiected entirely independently of the adjustment obtained through the medium of the operating member 9. Upon reverse rotation of the member I9 the members or bars I will have relative retracted movement whereby the garment may be removed from the device or apparatus with facility.

While the apparatus as herein disclosed is primarily intended for use to crease and stretch trousers, it is believed to be readily apparent that if desired'a coat may be readily engaged over the operating member 9 or the upper portion of the apparatus, thusallowing the device or apparatus to have the further function or use as a coat hanger. It is also believed to be readily apparent that with trousers applied to my improved device or apparatus and'with the members 9 and I9 adjusted to place the cloth under strain as for stretching and creasing, the garment will be held in a position and in a manner to facilitate its cleaning.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a creasing and stretching device for trousers constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:- 7 I 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising two units each having a pair of creasing and stretching bars for insertion through the legs of trousers, sleeves carried by adjacent ends of the bars, a shank threading through certain of the sleeves with the remaining sleeves free on the shank, turning movement of the shank in one direction moving the sleeves threaded thereon into contact with the'remaining sleeves and moving all of the sleeves in a direction to impose sep- 2. An apparatus of the class described comprising two units each having a pair of creasing and stretching bars for insertion through the legs of trousers, sleeves carried by adjacent ends of the bars, a shank threading through certain of the sleeves with the remaining sleeves free on the shank, turning movement of the shank in one direction moving the sleeves threaded thereon into contact with the remaining sleeves and moving all of the sleeves in a direction to impose separating movement upon the adjacent end portions of the bars, and means for pivotally attaching the sleeves to the bars.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising two units each having a pair of creasing and stretching bars for insertion through the legs of trousers, sleeves carried by adjacent ends of the bars, a shank threading through certain of the sleeves with the remaining sleeves free on the shank, turning movement of the shank in one direction moving the sleeves threaded thereon into contact with the remaining sleeves and moving all of the sleeves in a direction to impose separating movement upon the adjacent end portions of the bars, and means interposed between and coacting with the opposite end portions of 10 the bars for adjustably spreading the same.

JAMES D. DANIEL. 

